ALEON DAUDET

A l'auteur

du VOYAGE DE SHAKESPEARE,

du PARTAGE DE L'ENFANT,

de L'ASTRE NOIR,

de FANTOMES ET VIVANTS,

du MONDE DES IMAGES,

de tant de chefs-d'oeuvre,

A l'incomparable, ami

en témoignage

de reconnaissance et d'admiration

M. P.

To

MRS. H——

on her Birthday

OBERON, in the ATHENIAN glade,

Reduced by deft TITANIA'S power,

Invented arts for NATURE'S aid

And from a snowflake shaped a flower:

NATURE, to outdo him, wrought of human clay

A fairy blossom, which we acclaim to-day.

HEBE, to high OLYMPUS borne,

Undoomed to death, by age uncurst,

XERES and PORTO, night and morn,

Let flow, to appease celestial thirst:

Ev'n so, untouched by years that envious pass

YOUTH greets the guests to-night and fills the glass.

HESIONE, for monstrous feast,

Against a rock was chained, to die;

Young HERCLES came, he slew the beast,

Nor won the award of chivalry:

E. S. P. H., whom monsters hold in awe,

Shield thee from injury, and enforce the law!

C. K. S. M.